DPRK returns six detained S. Koreans back to Seoul

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned six South Korean nationals who have been detained in Pyongyang back to Seoul through the truce village of Panmunjom, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Friday.

Six South Korean people, who have been detained in the DPRK allegedly for unlawfully entering the country, crossed the land border through the neutral truce village of Panmunjom at 4:50 p.m. local time, the Unification Ministry said by phone.

The ministry unveiled family name, age and gender of the six people, but declined to disclose detailed identities of them. Those were all male, and the age ranged from 27 to 67.

They were reportedly being transported to Seoul by helicopter as the ministry plans to look into the process of their entrance to the DPRK and what they did while staying in Pyongyang.

According to related laws, those defected to the DPRK voluntarily would be punished.

The DPRK sent a notice in the name of its National Red Cross chairman on Thursday saying it would return the six people back to Seoul.

The DPRK's Korea Central news Agency (KCNA) said on Feb. 26, 2010 that four South Korean people had been detained in the country and questioned for illegally entering Pyongyang.

South Korea requested the DPRK to verify the identification of those detained at that time, but Pyongyang did not respond to it, the Unification Ministry said.

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Thursday that it will return six South Korean nationals who have been detained in Pyongyang for unlawfully entering the country back to Seoul through the truce village of Panmunjom on Friday afternoon.Full Story

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has yet to decide on whether to allow South Korean lawmakers to visit the reopened industrial park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Monday.Full Story

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday stressed the importance of reform and openness of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to open a new era of cooperation in Eurasia.Full Story